At the college, three professors voluntarily announced intended separations from Erskine at the end of the current fiscal year. Other savings will come from several salary reductions because of sabbaticals and load reductions. Additionally, the department of Modern Languages, which houses a French and a Spanish major, as well as several minors will be eliminated.
Erskine College and Theological Seminary President Paul Kooistra announced several program and personnel reductions in a letter addressed to students, faculty and staff on December 2.
The reductions, scheduled to take effect in the 2015-16 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, are part of a plan aimed at getting the institution back on a firm and sustainable financial footing.
Approved by the Erskine board of trustees on Aug. 15, the new reductions are expected to save the institution about $875,000.
At the seminary, three of the 12 full-time faculty positions will be eliminated, with the remaining faculty taking a 25-percent reduction in salary. This reduction comes on top of a 5-percent institution-wide reduction that took effect after the Aug. 15 decision.
In his letter, Kooistra stated the seminary expects an increase in revenue next year through expanded programs and tuition.
Cliff Smith, Erskine vice president for Communications, said Wednesday the new seminary programs and expansions are still in the process of being decided, but would be taught by remaining seminary faculty.
